ABU DHABI, 12 April, 05 (WAM) - The Committee devised to overseeenvironmental awareness programmes held its first meeting todiscuss the process of overseeing all environmental educationand awareness programmes to be carried out in the Emirate. Attendedby different representatives from the relevant organizations,the meeting was chaired by the Secretary General of the EnvironmentalResearch and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA).

The Committee was formed after a decree was issued by SheikhHamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister ofState for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of ERWDA, so thatall environmental education and awareness activities by the differentorganizations in the Emirate would be better coordinated, thereforemore effective and targeting a large number of schools and othertarget groups.

A presentation was delivered by the Environmental Education andAwareness Division of ERWDA on the environmental education andawareness programmes that the Agency has been delivering since1998 and has focused on the Emirate's educational system butalso considers women's groups, religious leaders and the generalpublic.

In its presentation, ERWDA emphasized that environmental awarenessprogrammes act as an essential part of the Agency's overall environmentalstrategy for the Emirate, which was set in cooperation with relevantagencies in the country.

Moreover, during the meeting, an agreement was reached to forma technical committee to pinpoint the strengths and weaknessesof the environmental awareness programmes on the level of theEmirate of Abu Dhabi. This technical committee will include representativesfrom ERWDA, Federal Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi EducationalZone, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Emirates HeritageClub. The technical committee will also conduct an evaluationof the current situation regarding the programmes as well asset criteria for evaluation of the current and future programmes.

An evaluation of the staff involved will also be conducted. Eachorganization will have to satisfy the criteria set by the committeein order to carry out any programme. It is also worthwhile tonote that the committee will have a separate identity and logo.

Attending the meeting were representatives from the Federal EnvironmentAgency, ERWDA, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, Ministryof Agriculture and Fisheries, Abu Dhabi Educational Zone, AlAin Educational Zone, Western Region Educational Zone, EmiratesHeritage Club, Environment Friends Society, ADNOC and Shell AbuDhabi.